25 February 2021
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
“…help me, who am alone and have no help but you…” (Esther C:14, 25)
The book of Esther sets before us a young woman who has been made queen of Persia. Her identity as a Jew is not known to others in the Persian empire, least of all to high ranking officials in that empire who are seeking the destruction of the Jewish people. The only way to save them is for queen Esther to speak with the Persian emperor, but according to the imperial laws, to meet the emperor without being summoned could lead to one’s own execution. Having received the immense burden of seeking the deliverance of her people at the risk of her own life, Esther turns to God in prayer.
Esther’s tremendous responsibility requires courage and assistance that only God can give. She wisely recognizes this, and embraces dependence upon divine Providence. Rather than simply being overwhelmed by the responsibility, or seeking her own security at the risk of the suffering of her people, she turns to the One who has promised to hear those who call upon Him. Alone, in need of help, she prays to the Lord who hears and who answers.
Jesus teaches the disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt 7:7) Often we can be so afraid to acknowledge our responsibilities and our need, that we are frightened into avoiding the silence in which we can prayerfully acknowledge our dependence in the presence of the Lord. It takes courage to face the fact that we have to ask, to seek, to knock. Yet, such dependence is not to be feared. It is the source of connection to the God who gives us the dignity of being His own adopted sons and daughters. May the Lord strengthen us by Esther’s example, and remind us that even when we are in charge, we are still dependent, and that God will meet us and answer us and help us who have only Him.